Loved the video! If you were going to spend weeks and not days in the saddle riding secondary roads all over this country, including some dirt, which would you pick? The offroad prowess of the XC is appealing, allowing the menu of available routes to be larger, but do you think the lower maintenance of the shaft and the better weather protection of the Explorer would offset this? Or, maybe just get the new Trophy and forget the dirt altogether?

I did this last summer, 2up, no less -- 6000 miles of secondary roads, from BC to West Texas and back. The XC was brilliant, though a little cramped. Just picked up the Explorer, though, and the back-to-back difference is HUGE. The XC is more versatile, no question, but the 1200 is made for long days and big miles and would be just fine on "simple" dirt and gravel roads.

I did this last summer, 2up, no less -- 6000 miles of secondary roads, from BC to West Texas and back. The XC was brilliant, though a little cramped. Just picked up the Explorer, though, and the back-to-back difference is HUGE. The XC is more versatile, no question, but the 1200 is made for long days and big miles and would be just fine on "simple" dirt and gravel roads.

Thanks for the feedback. My problem is that I'm retiring at 55 years old in a year, have no dirt experience except what I've done on my streetbike, but still have visions of the translabrador, alaska, and all of those awesome routes that Docking Pilot has posted on here. I also intend to spend weeks seeing this country from the back of a bike, and as much as I'd like one bike to do it all, that probably isn't realistic. Also, whereas I now ride solo, I might have the need for a passenger and all of our gear, so probably the larger explorer would be the better option. Probably in the end I'm better off just keeping my Legend since I can do all of my own work on it, and keep it simple. Maybe pick up a smaller dirt bike for the rougher roads? Too many decisions and too expensive to have all of them!

I am absolutely in love with my explorer. I currently have 3800 miles on it. I bought it ON my birthday May 22. I test rode BMW GS both adv and none adv. for 3 hours. To be honest i simply didn't get them.. Went back to triumph for second test ride and knew after 5 min. The Explorer was mine. Fell in love immediately.
Couple of good points: I am 6 ft tall and in the most comfortable sitting position (upright) my arms were stretched out straight which in turn gave me strain after 5 min. and made me tired way prematurely. So to compensate i would lean forward, which in turn would give me lower back strain. So i ordered and picked up yesterday handlebar risers about 1 inch up and pivots back and fourth. Huge difference. And also counter steering had become a lot easier since i can push forward on the bar instead of down. And it has become a lot easier to stand up on the pegs while reaching down to handlebars since they are higher up now.
Another suggestion - highway pegs. On longer freeway stretches, a god given for your legs and knees. Even in the highest seat position ( that's how i have it) the bend on my knees gets tough.
I also put on windshield extender from touratech. Much less wind noise.
I am absolutely in love with the engine, seat and bike's handling. But the changes i mentioned above were definitely needed for my comfort.
ABS and traction give me that extra piece of mind. Got used to throttle by wire after about a week.
There were NO issues so far! Lets hope that is the trend.
Enjoy my friends.

How much did you pay for a setup fee on the T800? What kind of setup fee is "reasonable"?

$0.0 My dealer does not charge setup. He said it's only a matter of putting on the mirrors, airing up tires, put in some gas, put a charge on the battery, checking computer diagnostics and ticking off a checklist.. takes maybe half an hour.

Just over week ago did 900 mi trip down to NC to suprise my sister and niece for her birthday. By far my longest road trip. Might look into a little better windshield for extended road trips. Just a touch of buffeting. It was starting to get a little windy too though so that didnt help. Little sore after I got off the bike. I could see it being a problem if I was riding a couple days straight like that, But then again could be just something to get used to just like being in the saddle for that long. Found I do usually have around half a gallon left when the miles to empty indicator runs out.

NONE of my waterproof clothing stayed dry. Even found I had a small pinhole in the crotch of my heavy pvc rain bibs. Didnt help the temp dropped 30 DEGREES within an hour of leaving my sisters. My 7 hour ride home turned into a 10.5 hr quest to not die of hypothermia and get home before the hurricane hit. That was absolute hell. Tires did great in the rain though. Plenty of times I was still running 75 ish when the road was dryer.

Anyone on the forum with a grey launch edition around the Hickory/statesville NC area? We were on the way to the zoo and saw one going the opposite way(40 east maybe?) riding with another guy. Even my bro in law noticed it was the same bike as mine, lol. Would have been sat the 27th.

T - shirt looks great! here are my impressions on my Explorer
I am absolutely in love with my explorer. I currently have 3800 miles on it. I bought it ON my birthday May 22. I test rode GS both adv and none adv. for 3 hours. To be honest i simply didn't get them.. Went back to triumph for second test ride and knew after 5 min. The Explorer was mine.
Couple of good points: I am 6 ft tall and in the most comfortable sitting position (upright) my arms were stretched out straight which in turn gave me strain after 5 min. and made me tired way prematurely. So to compensate i would lean forward, which in turn would give me lower back strain. So i ordered and picked up yesterday handlebar risers about 1 inch up and pivots back and fourth. Huge difference. And also counter steering had become a lot easier since i can push forward on the bar instead of down. And it has become a lot easier to stand up on the pegs while reaching down to handlebars since they are higher up now.
Another suggestion - highway pegs. On longer freeway stretches, a god given for your legs and knees. Even in the highest seat position ( that's how i have it) the bend on my knees gets tough.
I also put on windshield extender from touratech. Much less wind noise.
I am absolutely in love with the engine, seat and bike's handling. But the changes i mentioned above were definitely needed for my comfort.
ABS and traction give me that extra piece of mind. Got used to throttle by wire after about a week.
There were NO issues so far! Lets hope that is the trend.
Enjoy my friend.

Um.no. Dealer set-up takes much more time than that if done properly. The "checklist" for the tech to check everything on thsat list-not just check to boxes. I've done it and it takes time. Well over 1 hour to do correct.

$0.0 My dealer does not charge setup. He said it's only a matter of putting on the mirrors, airing up tires, put in some gas, put a charge on the battery, checking computer diagnostics and ticking off a checklist.. takes maybe half an hour.

$0.0 My dealer does not charge setup. He said it's only a matter of putting on the mirrors, airing up tires, put in some gas, put a charge on the battery, checking computer diagnostics and ticking off a checklist.. takes maybe half an hour.

This is the real world regardless of what your dealer or salesman will tell you. Greed and the willingness of the buyer to pay extra seem to be the norm these days.